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help in choosing first shotgun

steveo2155

By steveo2155
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steveo2155 Enthusiast

steveo2155

Posted
Posted

Any suggestions for first rifle? Have shot numerous times before but never bought one of my own. Will be used for mainly target shooting/clay pigeons and possible deer hunting. I dont want to spend a fortune but want a good gun with somewhat cheap ammo.

cl2sparky Enthusiast

cl2sparky

Posted
Posted

Any suggestions for first rifle? Have shot numerous times before but never bought one of my own. Will be used for mainly target shooting/clay pigeons and possible deer hunting. I dont want to spend a fortune but want a good gun with somewhat cheap ammo.

I like the Remington 870. Relatively inexpensive, and reliable!!!

 

Sent from my 1911-A1

bassJAM Enthusiast

bassJAM

Posted
Posted

Your title say's shotgun, yet your post mentions rifle. I'll assume you meant shotgun, so I'll echo the Remington 870 and add in the Mossberg 500. Both are excellent pump shotguns that have been around for a long time and are pretty darn reliable. A 12 ga is the most common shotgun out there, but if you want something a tad lighter that kicks less the 20 ga is also very common. Ammo for both is typically the same price.

Boardmember Senior Enthusiast

Boardmember

Posted
Posted

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Franchi Affinity 12g synthetic stock left hand semi-automatic shotgun. If you're shooting sporting clays, you may not want a pump although the prior recommendations aren't wrong.

 

This gun is made by Benelli (a recognized premium brand) and is indistinguishable except that I paid $700 and couldn't have bought Benelli for that. I've put a few hundred shells through this gun in a variety of conditions. Not once has it been unreliable.

 

Pay attention to pump vs semi-auto.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 Senior Enthusiast

SouthernSilveradoGuy85

Posted
Posted

The best 2 that are popular and affordable are the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 (or 590 which just has a longer mag tube for more shells). Either is a good choice. But, once I saw that with the Remington if the ejector broke you had to send it to Remington to replace it because of how it's installs. I believe it's a rivet that you can't get to on the other side. With the Mossberg 500 or 590 you can replace the ejector yourself.

seansharley Enthusiast

seansharley

Posted
Posted

Personal preference, I prefer Ithaca over above mentioned. Ithaca is ambidextrous, mechanically smoother, and you can release the shells out the bottom without chambering. Yes, I own all above and prefer Ithaca

Boardmember Senior Enthusiast

Boardmember

Posted
Posted

Good call. One parameter OP didn't list was budget range. That's an important criteria that needs to be included. For skeet/sporting clays, it takes years or seasoning to make a pump work to your advantage.

KMGZ400 Senior Enthusiast

KMGZ400

Posted
Posted

Personal preference, I prefer Ithaca over above mentioned. Ithaca is ambidextrous, mechanically smoother, and you can release the shells out the bottom without chambering. Yes, I own all above and prefer Ithaca

That's a good point. I am a lefty and it's always challenging to buy guns.

Camaro45th Enthusiast

Camaro45th

Posted
Posted

My first gun was the Remington 870 Express Tactical. It is a good shotgun, never seemed to have any problems with it. I've only shot slugs out of it however, my local range only allows slugs. I added a limbsaver to it when I shoot it, cuz the 12 GA does have some kick to it lol.

cl2sparky Enthusiast

cl2sparky

Posted
Posted

That's a good point. I am a lefty and it's always challenging to buy guns.

That is a good idea, especially if you are left-handed. Ithaca makes really good shottys!!!

 

Sent from my 1911-A1

Spurshot Senior Enthusiast

Spurshot

Posted
Posted

Any suggestions for first rifle? Have shot numerous times before but never bought one of my own. Will be used for mainly target shooting/clay pigeons and possible deer hunting. I dont want to spend a fortune but want a good gun with somewhat cheap ammo.

A shotgun is not a rifle. Nor visa versa. It's like calling a motorcycle a car.

  • 3 weeks later...
BlackZ71Silverado Senior Enthusiast

BlackZ71Silverado

Posted
Posted

Personal preference, I prefer Ithaca over above mentioned. Ithaca is ambidextrous, mechanically smoother, and you can release the shells out the bottom without chambering. Yes, I own all above and prefer Ithaca

 

The Remington 870 can and should be unloaded without chambering also, it's the correct way to unload the magazine tube. Unfortunately, most people don't take the time to, or care to learn how to properly handle the shotgun and start racking rounds through the chamber......Not a good idea.

MikeNH Senior Enthusiast

MikeNH

Posted
Posted

 

The Remington 870 can and should be unloaded without chambering also, it's the correct way to unload the magazine tube. Unfortunately, most people don't take the time to, or care to learn how to properly handle the shotgun and start racking rounds through the chamber......Not a good idea.

 

 

My 500 can be unloaded without chambering too. There's a little spring/tang thing that lets you do so.

 

I like my 500. It's been good to me but the 870 is hardly a bad firearm. Either will serve you well and offer a huge aftermarket to customize it if desired.

sdeeter19555 Senior Enthusiast

sdeeter19555

Posted
Posted

I'll echo the Mossberg 500, I had one that probably ate 10k rounds over the time I owned it and never had an issue. I had three barrels: a 26" improved cylinder that was deadly on ducks, a 30" full choke for turkey and geese, and 28" accuchoke that I used if I knew I was going for mixed bag. That's one I should have never gotten rid of...

 

My father and grandfather have the Mossberg 835, 3-1/2", 12 gauges that work very well. Kick like a mule, but get the job done almost like a 10ga (we had lots of those as well). The main thing with a 3-1/2" 12ga is that you can shoot 2-3/4", 3", and 3-1/2:.

 

The main thing with the Mossbergs is that you can easily switch barrels, swapping from a shotgun barrel to a rifled slug barrel takes literally a few seconds.

 

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

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